Metallic ceiling



(No Model.) W. R. KINNEAR.

METALLIC CEILING.

No. 464,694. Patented Dec. 8, 14891.

' frame-work above.

NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM R. KINNEAR, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

METALLIC CEILING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,694, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed June 15, 1891. Serial No. 396,227. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. KINNEAR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio,have invented an Improvement in Metallic Ceilings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in metallic ceilings; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter described and claimed.

As at present constructed, these ceilings make no adequate provision for maintaining their conformation or retaining their position on the structure to which they have been applied in the event of fire. As a consequence of this lack of provision, the plates of which the ceiling is com posed are warped and twisted in the event of fire in such manner as todraw the joints asunder, and thereby permit the flames to pass through and ignite the It is to obviate this dif ficulty which is the object of the present invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling-panel constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section of a rail formed by two abutting panels,

and showing the position of the asbestus covering. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the crossrails, showing the manner of forming the same and the disposition of the asbestus covering. Fig. 4 is a detail view inperspective showing the manner of suspending the asbestus covering.

The panels of which these ceilings are constructed are metal, which will prevent the passage of the flames of any ordinary fire through itself, but will, under the heat generated thereby, warp and twist in such way as to open the joints between the separate plates of which the ceilings are composed, and thereby permit the. flames to pass to the woodwork of the structure above. It is to overcome this effort on the part of the metal that we here provide the joints shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which are peculiarly adapted to the positions they occupy in the-construction.

The under side of the floor-joists to which this ceiling is to be applied is provided with paneled furring-strips H, so placed as to receive the margins 13 and C of the panels A.

counteract to preventthe separation of the joints above spoken of. As will be seen, the margin Bis provided with the returned metal B, which, when in position, forms a groove opening toward the center or body of the panel of which it is a part, forming thereby a hook to catch when drawn in the direction of the center of the panel,which would be the effect when the panel is inclined to warp. This margin B is that which is first secured in position on the furring-strips H, and for this purpose the edge B is formed thereon by pressing the metal forming the groove B to gether at that point. Through this edge the fastenings K, either nails or screws, are driven into the furring-strips H. In this position the construction is ready to receive the margin 0 of the adjoining panel. This is accomplished by inserting the returned metal 0 on the margin C of the succeding panel into the groove B This margin 0 is provided with the raised hook formation C formed by the returned metal 0 and the margin B, to co-operate with the said margin B to prevent the separation of the joints by either drawing toward the centers of the panels or thrusting from the same. This is here accomplished by the interlocking of the returned edges B and O and the shoulder C The interlocked edgings will while they are held flat resist any strain exerted upon them to draw the panels apart, but will not offer any resistance to the thrusting strain above referred to. It is for this purpose that the shoulder C is provided, which, being formed to rest directly in front of and against the edge B of the margin B, prevents the separation of the interlocked returned edges by intercepting any movement on the part of the margins away from each other. hen the returned edge 0 has been inserted in the groove E the panel is adjusted in position on the furring-strips H and the margin 0 is secured as described above. In

this adjustment the shoulder 0 it will be seen, rests on the strip in front of the edge B The joined margins are further secured by driving a fastening J through all the layers of metal forming the interlocked joint, as seen in Fig. 2 of drawings. -This fastening new drives theparts solidlytogether and maintains them in that position,while.at the same time adding a resisting element to any independent movement on the part of the sepa- 5 rate margins.

The above-described joint secures the edges of the panels that rest on the furring-strips, but would not answer for the cross-joints where there is no furringstri p provided. The

joint used in this part of the construction is that shown in Fig. 3 of drawings. This construction consists in forming on the margin D of one of the abutting panels the groove 1) and providing the same with the strengthening-flange D'. In this condition the rail or combined margins are held from sagging by the said flange, which while maintaining its vertical position is amply sufiicient to support the weight of the joined panels, but which in the event of being twisted out of line by the action of the heat above referred to would allow the ends thus joined to sag and pull apart. It is to prevent this action that I have provided the terra-cotta block F and the additional bend of the edge I) of the strengthening-edge at an angle to itself, the block to maintain the shape of the strengtheningflange and the edge to hold the block from dislodgment by vibration or other cause.

0 Lengthwise through'the said block extends a groove to correspond in shape to the strengthening flange and edge, and as the panels are placed in position this block is slipped on. hen raised with the panel, it is projected between the furring-strips and prevented by them from lengthwise dislodgment. cross-rail margins are joined in the manner shown in drawings by providing a groove on the one and a straight margin on the otherand 4o inserting the straight margin in the groove.

\Vith all the abutting margins of the panels thus joined it will be seen that resistance against the action above referred to is provided for, and the ceiling remains im- 5 penetrable by the flames. \Vhile, however,

this ceiling thus effectually prevents the passage of the flames to the wood-work above it, it offers but little obstruction to the passage of the heat. It is to shield the wood-work from the heat that so passes the ceiling that I place on the furring-strips above the panels the non-combustible sheathing G, which in the preferred form shown in drawings is constructed of asbestus. This sheathing is con- 5 5 structed in sheets, which are secured to the furring-strips II by means of the metallic channels I. These sheets, as will be seen in Fig. 40f drawings, are lapped on the furring-strips and form between the same long channels of asbestus, into which the bodies of the panels extend.

In suspending this These sheathing the sheets are laid on in succession, the edges being secured on the furring-strips by the metallic channels I, which are slightly sprung and are provided with side arms to lift the body of the sheathing far enough to allow for an air-space between it and the said panels. It is after the sheathing is thus secured in place that the panels are put on. The fastenings of the margins of the panels that rest on the furring-strips pass through theLlapped edges of the sheathing and thereby secure it in position. It will now be seen that this construction by preventing the admission to the wood-work either of the flames or heat of a fire forms a ceiling which is fireproof, while being at the same time light in construction.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is- 1. In a metallic ceiling such as described, the combination of two or more panels provided with margins adapted to lap the one on the otherand provided with returned edgings to form grooves, and the said edgings adapted to enter the groove formed on the abutting panel, and fastenin gs adapted to pass through the lapped margins and the returned edgin gs and bind the whole together, substantially as described.

2. In a metallic ceiling such as described, the combination of two or more panels pro vided with margins, the one provided with a groove and the other with a flat extension adapted to enter said groove, a strengthening-flange secured to one of the joined margins, and a non-combustible block provided with a groove to receive said strengtheningflange to maintain the same in position, substan tially as described.

3. In a metallic ceiling such as described, the combination of two or more quadrilateral panels having on two opposite sides margins adapted to lap those of adjoining panels and provided with returned edgings to form grooves, andsaid edgings adapted to enter the grooves formed on the abutting panels, fastenings adapted to pass through thelapped margins and returned edgings and bind the whole together and on the remaining two sides being the one provided with a groove and the other with an extension adapted to enter the said groove of an adjoining panel, a strengtheningflange attached to the said margin provided with a groove, and a non-combustible retaining-block to receive the said strengthening-flange, substantially as described.

WILLIAM R. KINNEAR.

\Vitnesses:

L. F. Sco'r'r, J. F. ANTHONY. 

